More on Batter Interference

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by mbyron

If the batter remains in the box and makes no abnormal movements, he is immune to BI, no matter where F2 throws the ball.

If he steps out or makes abnormal movements, and if he consequently hinders the defense, it is BI.

It's not that difficult in practice.

My revisions (for simplicity sake) :

If the batter remains in the box and interferes , call it.
If the batter steps out of the box and interferes, call it.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

My revisions (for simplicity sake) :

If the batter remains in the box and interferes , call it.
If the batter steps out of the box and interferes, call it.

Simplicity seems to be rather unhelpful, especially regarding in obliterating the distinction between being in and out of the box.

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Simplicity seems to be rather unhelpful, especially regarding in obliterating the distinction between being in and out of the box.

I was trying to obliterate your use of the term 'abnormal' and replace it simply with the term, 'interfere'. We see interference, we call it. For example, a pitcher might make an 'abnormal' looking pick off, that might not be a balk.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I was trying to obliterate your use of the term 'abnormal' and replace it simply with the term, 'interfere'. We see interference, we call it. For example, a pitcher might make an 'abnormal' looking pick off, that might not be a balk.

What counts as interference is different depending on whether the batter is in the box. Normal movements in the box are legal; normal movements out of the box might not be.

Your formulation is content-free and useless: call interference when the batter interferes. The point of the thread is to illuminate what the batter can and cannot do, and your post doesn't help.

[thumpferee]

IMO the word abnormal complicated everything.

Stepping back after the catcher has the pitch, even if the batter is still in the box, is very normal, but he is still responsible for his movements as to not interfere. So any normal movement would still be considered interference.

Which I think Matt was trying to emphasize.

As most have said, you'll know it when you see it!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

IMO the word abnormal complicated everything.

Stepping back after the catcher has the pitch, even if the batter is still in the box, is very normal, but he is still responsible for his movements as to not interfere. So any normal movement would still be considered interference.

Which I think Matt was trying to emphasize.

As most have said, you'll know it when you see it!

Ed Zachary.